Kampala — The Ministry of Health has started indoor spraying in Teso this week.

The exercise to introduce Indoor Residual Spraying of mosquitoes in the region is done in partnership with Pilgrim, a local NGO. "We are using Icon in its liquid form instead of the powder because it lasts nine months.

This will allow us to spray a few times in a year and deal with malaria parasites in human beings and the vector through a combination of indoor residual spraying and treatment of the people in the endemic areas," Mr Anthony Esenu, the Managing Director of Pilgrim, said.

"We will spray houses to cut off contact between the parasite and the occupants, test and treat all persons having the malaria parasite and treat patients within 24 hours of showing signs, especially women and children under the age of five."

The programme targets 120,000 households in Katakwi and 2.5 million people in Teso sub-region. Mr Esenu said the floods that hit Teso late last year have caused malaria prevalence to increase. In Katakwi for example, the prevalence increased from 40 per cent to 63 per cent.

Mr Esenu said apart from indoor residual spraying, they will de-worm, and immunise children against the killer diseases and also give them Vitamin A supplements. Dr Myrs Lugemwa, an official from the Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, urged the community to cooperate to combat malaria, the number one killer disease.

Malaria claims 320 people everyday, majority of whom are children and pregnant women. Dr Lugemwa said malaria also accounts for 30 to 50 per cent of out-patient attendances.